Semaphore-operating mechanism.



No. 662,549.. Patented Nov. 27, I900.

VJ. S-HUECBAFT.

SEMAPHORE OPERATING MECHANISM. (Application filed June 23, 1900.)

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lhvrrnn STATES PATENT @FHQE.

JUDSON SHOECRAFT, OF ESKRIDGE, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES C. GARDINER,OF BRADFORD, KANSAS.

SEMAPHORE-OPERAJTING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,549, dated November27, 1900. lApplieation filed June 23,1900- Serial No. 21,375- (No modelfated railway-signals, and more particularly to that class known assemaphore-signals, the object of the invention being to provide ablock-signal-operating mechanism wherein the semaphore will be set atdangefi when the track is obstructed or should the mechanism become outof order at any stage of its operation or while in the safe position. Inmechanism of this class it is highly important that the semaphore mayindicate the condition of the apparatus as well as of the track, and inthe present construction if the circuit which operates thesemaphore-retracting motor is broken or the circuit which holds thelocking mechanism active be broken the semaphore will be returned to thedanger position. Otherwise the mechanism might become inoperative whenthe semaphore is partly withdrawn and any subsequent closure of thetrack would not be indicated.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in whichlike numerals ofreference indicate similar parts in the several views,Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a block protected by asystem of apparatusinvolvingthepresentinvention. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the semaphore-operating mechanism and showing the positionsof the parts after the follower has dropped to raise the semaphore-armto the danger position. Fig. 3 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 2 andshowing the mechanism in position to hold the semaphore lowered. Fig. 4is a side elevation of the upper portion of the mechanism and showingthe arrangement of the brake-lever and its operating-rod. Fig. 5 is adetail perspective view showing the follower and its locking mechanism.Fig. 6 is a rear view of Fig. 2, showing the manner of operating thebrake and also showing the positions of the cushion-springs.

The present invention is to be included in a system including aplurality of semaphoreoperating mechanism located one at each end ofeach of the blocks of a railroad and is used in combination with sourcesof elect ricity and a track-relay for closing its several circuits.

This semaphore-operating mechanism is connected directly with asemaphore-post 10, and consists of a base plate 11, upon which ismounted a frame 12, having a central perforation, vertically of which ispassed a screwthreaded shaft 13, having suitable hearings in the base 11and in a (liamagnetic plate 15, secured to the motor 14, which latter islocated below the plate 11 and held in proper position upon thesemaphorepost. The shaft 13 has mounted thereon below the plate 11 thegearwheel 16, meshing with the pinion 17 upon the armature-shaft of themotor, as shown. Thus as the armature of the motor rotates the shaft 13will be rotated, and from the rotation of this shaft the semaphoremounted upon the post 10 is lowered.

In the top of the frame 12 is a slot in which 'end of which extends aconnecting-rod 21,

pivoted at its upper end to the semaphore 22,

between its fulcrum and the outer end thereof. This semaphore is of theusual construction and need not be described.

The lower end of the rod 18 enters the inclosure of the frame 12 and hasmounted v thereon a block 25, on opposite sides of which are secured theupper ends of hangers 26 and 27, of which the hanger 27, which is ofspring metal,has its upper end fixed, as shown in the drawings, and thehanger 26 is pivotally connected. To the lower end of the hanger 27 issecured a section 28 of a transversely-split nut, the perforation ofwhich is vertically disposed, the opposite section 29 being fixed to thelower end of the hanger 26. The perforation of the split nut, which isformed partially in each of the nut-sections, is threaded to receive thethreads of the shaft 13, whereby when the nut is in a closed positionthe rotation of the shaft 13 through the medium of the armature of themotor 14 will act to feed the nut longitudinally of the shaft and movethe semaphore 22 on its pivot. In this construction it is intended thatthe rotation of the screwshaft 13 will be in a direction to move the nutupwardly, and thus to lower the semaphore-arm into that position knownas the safe position. When the nut has been fed to the limit of itsmovement, the motor-circuit is broken, the nut being held in the raisedposition to hold the semaphore-arm lowered to the safe position untilsuch time as a train shall come upon or into the block, when thenut-sections are released from engagement with the screw-shaft and thenut drops to raise the semaphore-arm to the danger position or to permitit to thus rise, it being understood that the parts are so formed andconnected that in the event of the disconnection of the follower fromthe semaphore the latter will rise of itself, the split nut and theparts carried thereby being in effect a follower.

The hanger 27 acts to hold its nut-section normally out of engagementwith the screwshaft 13, and normally the pivotal connection of thehanger 26 will permit its nut-section to swing freely, and thus to beswung outwardly and from engagement with the shaft 13 when the followerdescends.

In order to hold the nut-sections together to cause them to grip theshaft 13, there is secured to the opposite ends of the nut-section 28plates 31 and 32, which inclose the nutsection 29 and between which thenut-section 29 is adapted for swinging movement. The plates 31 and 32extend heyond the outer face of the section 29 and of the hanger 26,

and a shaft 33 is journaled in hearings in the protruding portions ofsaid plates.

In one side of the shaft 33 is cut a flat-bottomed slot 35, resulting inthe formation of an edge 35 at the line of meeting of the periphery ofthe shaft and the bottom of the slot, and when the shaft is rotated toproject the edge in the direction of the hanger 26 a wedge 36 is passedbetween the edge and the hanger and acts to move the nut-section 29inthe direction of the section 28, and thus close the sections upon theshaft 13, or if the nutsections are lying in engagement with the shaftthe insertion of the wedge will prevent their disengagement. The slot 35is of such depth that when the shaft 33 is turned to hold the slot inthe direction of the hanger 26 the edge 35 will move from engagementwith the wedge, so that the wedge will be free to be withdrawn, ashereinafter described, the whole function of the slot being to releasethe wedge.

In order to oscillate the shaft 33 to cause it to project the edge 35 inthe direction of the hanger 26, an electromagnet 37 is mounted upon theblock and has an armature 38 fixed at one end to the shaft 33, theelectromagnet being adapted to hold said armature in the position shownin Fig. 3 of the drawings and in which position the edge projects in thedirection of the hanger 26 to receive the wedge between it and thehanger and engage the nut with the shaft. In order to hold the wedge 36in engagement with the edge 35 and to initially move it into thisposition, a second electromagnet 39 is mounted upon the block 35 and hasan armature 40 pivoted to the plate 31 and the laterally-' turned end ofwhich is passed through aslot- 41 in the enlarged upper end of the wedge36. Thus when the pivoted armature is attracted it will move the wedge36 downwardly and into engagement with the shaft or the edge 35 thereofand with the hanger 26, causing the hanger to move in the direction ofthe hanger 27 and engage the nut-sections with the shaft 13.

When the electromagnet 39 is deenergized, its armature is released, andits Weight causes it to drop and raise the wedge from its loweredposition, said wedge having been released by reason of the magnet 37releasing its armature, the weight of the armature causing the shaft 33to turn and move the edge 35 from contact with the wedge. Thenut-sections then separate, and the follower is free to drop and raisethe semaphore-arm.

The electromagnets 37 and 39 are connected in series with a battery, andthe circuit of these electromagnets is opened and closed by one elementof a double-pointed relay 41, the terminals of the windings of the coilsof which are connected with the track-rails 42 and 43, and with whichrails are also connected the terminals of a relay-battery 44. Thus therelay is normally energized to hold the circuit of the magnets 37 and 39closed until a train comes into the block, when the relay isshortcircuited and the circuit of the magnets 37 and 39 is broken in thewell-known manner.

The motor 14 is in circuit with a second battery 46, the circuit ofwhich is controlled by the second point of the double-pointed relay 41,and the circuit of the motor is also made and broken through aswitch-spring 47, which is mounted upon the frame and stands in contactwith a contactpoint 38', mounted in proper relation thereto, so thatwhen the follower rises it will strike the switch-spring and raise itfrom the contact-point to break the motor-circuit.

The operation of this portion of the mechanism is as follows: Normallythe contactspring 47 is out of contact with the contactpoint, thefollower being at the upper limit of its movement; and the motor atrest, although the circuit of the motor is closed at the relay, saidrelay holding also closed the circuits of the magnets 37 and 39, so thatthe split nut is held in engagement with the screw-shaft to hold thesemaphore lowered. It then a train enters the block, the relay isshort-circuited through the wheels and axle of the train and the circuitof the magnets 37 and 39 is broken, and the armatures of the magnetsbeing released the armature of magnet 37 first drops and turns the shaft33 to release the wedge 36, when the armature of magnet 39 is permittedto drop and raise the IIO wedge from its operative position. Thisreleasing of the wedge is due to the fact that the edge 35 is turnedtherefrom and the slot of the shaft is turned in the direction of thewedge. When the train leaves the block, the short circuit of the relayis removed, when the relay is energized to close the circuits of themotor and magnets. Upon the plate 11 and in the paths of downwardmovement of the armatures of the magnets 37 and 39 are cushion-springs50 and 51, and when the circuit of the magnets is broken to release thenut-sections from the screw-shaft the follower drops and thesemaphore-arm rises, the armature striking upon these cushion-springsand raising them close to the pole-pieces of the magnets, so that whenthe magnets are again energized the artnatures will be quickly andpositively moved thereby. As the train leaves the block and the relay isoperated to close the circuits of the motor and magnets the armature 38is attracted and projects the edge 35 in the direction of the hanger26,after which the armature of magnet 39 is moved to wedge the wedgebetween said edge 35 and the adjacent face of the hanger 26, and themotor being in operation, because of the releasing of the spring 47, thefollower moves upwardly, because of the engagement of the split nut withthe screw-shaft, until the block 25 strikes the switch-spring 4:7 andmoves it away from the contact-point, so that the motor-circuit isbroken and the upward movement of the follower ceases. The followerremains at the upper limit of its movement until the relay isshort-circuited, when the locking-magnet circuit is again broken and thenut-sections move from engagement with the screw to permit the followerto descend, as above mentioned. Itwill be noted that the entire lockingmechanism is carried by the follower and that the screw-shaft acts toelevate the follower and hold it elevated. When the follower has reachedthe upper limit of its movement and the circuit of the motor has beenbroken thereby, it is desirable that some means he provided for stoppingthe motor, so that it will not raise the follower too high, nor tend toso raise it, and thus break the apparatus, owing to the momentum of thearmature after the circuit of the motor is broken. For this purpose theupper end of the motor-shaft, which projects through the plate 11, has abrake-drum engaged therewith, and against the end of this drum rests theshoe of a lever 61, which is fulcrumed upon the frame 12. The power endof the lever 61 has a rod 62 connected there with and the upper end ofwhich is passed through a guide-plate 63 upon the top of the frame 12.An arm 65 projects laterally from the rod 62 and into the path of upwardmovement of the follower, so that after the follower engages and opensthe motor-switch it engages the arm and raises it to press thebrake-shoeagainst the end of the brake-drum to stop the rotation of themotor. It will thus be seen that after the brake-shoe has been engagedwith the drum continued motion of the motor acts to increase thepressure of the brake and the stopping of the motor is assured.

To prevent too sudden application of the brake, a cushionspring 60 isdisposed in the path of upward movement of the follower, so that thefollower engages it just previous to engagement with the arm 65.

In practice various modifications of the specific construction shown maybe made and any suitable materials and proportions may be used withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is l. The combination with a semaphore, of an electricmotor, a circuit including said motor, a screw-shaft for rotation by themotor, a follower adapted to move alternately with and free of thescrew-shaft, means carried by the follower for engaging the followerwith the shaft and disengaging it therefrom, means in the path of thefollower for breaking the circuit of the motor separate means foroperating the disengaging means, and connections between the followerand the semaphore.

2. The combination with a semaphore, of an electric motor, acircuitincluding said motor, a screw-shaft for rotation by the motor, afollower adapted for engagement with and disengagement from thescrewshaft, electrically-operated means for engaging and disengaging thefollower, a relay for making and breaking the circuits of the motor andthe follower engaging and disengaging means, and means in the path ofthe follower for breaking the circuit of the motor prior to the breakingof the circuit of the follower engaging and disengaging means.

3. The combination with a semaphore, of an electric motor, a circuitincluding said motor, a screw-shaft adapted for rotation by the motor, aseparable follower adapted to move alternately with and free from thescrewshaft, electrically-operated means for closing the follower uponthe screw-shaft, a circuit for said means, connections between thefollower and semaphore, and means in the path of the follower forbreaking the motor-circuit independently of the circuit of the engagingand disengaging means.

at. The combination with a semaphore, of an electric motor, a circuitincluding said motor, a screw-shaft adapted for rotation by the motor, aseparable follower adapted to move alternately with and free from thescrewshaft, means for holding the parts of the follower normallyseparated and free from the screw-shaft, electrically-operated means forclosing the follower upon the shaft and for holding it operative withrespect thereto, a circuit for said means separate from themotor-circuit and means operated by the follower for breaking themotor-circuit.

5. The combination with a semaphore, of an electric motor, connectionsbetween the motor and semaphorefor operating the sem aphore, acircuitincluding said motor, a screwshaft for rotation by the motor, a followeradapted to move alternately with and free from the screw-shaft, meanscarried by the follower for engaging the follower with the shaft anddisengaging it therefrom, and a brake for the motor operable by thefollower.

6. The combination with a semaphore, of an electric motor, a circuitincluding said mtor, a screw-shaft for rotation by the motor, a followeradapted to move alternately free from and with the screw-shaft, meanscarried by the follower for engaging the follower with the shaft anddisengaging it therefrom, means in the path of the follower for breakingthe m otor-circuit, a brake mechanism for the motor operable by thefollower, and connections between the follower and the semaphore.

7. The combination with a semaphore, of a follower connected therewith,a screw-shaft having operating means, electrically-operated meanscarried by and movable with the follower for engaging and disengaging itwith respect to the screw-shaft, means operated by the follower forarresting the shaft-operating means, and means for subsequentlyoperating the disengaging means to permit the follower to drop andoperate the semaphore.

8. The combination with a semaphore, of an electic motor, acirouitincluding said motor, a screw-shaft adapted for rotation by themotor, a separable follower adapted to move alternately with and freefrom the screwshaft, electrically-operated means for closing thefollower upon the shaft, connections between the follower and semaphore,means in the path of the follower for breaking the motor-circuit, abrake-drum carried by the motor-shaft, a brake-lever for engagement withthe brake-dru m, and means in the path of the follower for operating thebrake-lever.

9. The combination with a semaphore, of an electric motor, a screw-shaftfor rotation by the motor, a follower adapted to move alternately withand free from the screw-shaft, electromagnetic means carried by thefollower for engaging the follower with the shaft and for disengaging ittherefrom, means in the path of the follower for breaking the circuit ofthe motor, separate batteries for the motor and theelectromagneticmeans, a two-point relay having a point in each battery-circuit to closethe battery-circuits separately and simultaneously, said relay beingadapted for connection with track-rails, and connections between thefollower and the semaphore.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JUDSON SHOEORAFT. Witnesses:

O. E. BOYLE, J; Ross COLHOUN.

